 The band's name is derived from "Opel", a song by Syd Barrett.The group formed in the mid-1980s under the name Clay Allison, featuring guitarist David Roback (previously of Rain Parade), bassist Kendra Smith (from Dream Syndicate) and drummer Keith Mitchell.After one single, they released the remaining Clay Allison tracks under the band's new name, Opal, on the 1984 "Fell from the Sun EP".